My excitement kept me up that night.
Then, morning came. Someone rang the doorbell, and I opened the door. The first thing to desecrate my eyes was Fabian's disgusting face. He was smiling.
"Congratulations, Christopher. I wasn't expecting an internationally famous musical organization to set its eyes on you. I wish I were you. You're a lucky man."
He chalked this up to luck? I didn't care. I was not going to argue with him, so I extended my hand. "Give me the invitation."
He did not give me the invitation. Instead, he shook his head. "Why should you get this opportunity? I'm a music academy graduate as well. You're not better than me. How about this? You give me the invitation, and I'll put in a good word with Ms. Riverson for you."
I almost laughed, yet I was also taken over by a deep bitterness. How sad. Sophie was supposed to be my wife, yet I needed someone else to put in a good word with her so she wouldn't be mad at me.
"Do you have any idea how stupid that suggestion is?" I looked at him coldly. "If you didn't get the invitation, that means you're not good enough. That fact will never change, and you think you can just take another person's spot just by talking it out? Untalented and stupid."
I grabbed the invitation, but Fabian refused to let it go. Instead, he put on a look of discontent and defiance. "We're colleagues. You didn't have to go that far, Christopher. Besides, it's just one invitation. Surely you can find it in yourself to give it away. If you're that talented, you can be successful even without this invitation."
How could someone say something so… audacious? Did he have no shame?
That's it. I lost my patience and stepped forward. "I'm not wasting my time making small talk with you. Give. It. To. Me!"
And then I saw Sophie's car stopping at the entrance. At the same time, Fabian screamed and stumbled backward, then he crumpled to the ground.
"Fabian!" Sophie shouted and rushed over to us. Worried, she picked Fabian up. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, Sophie." Fabian was still on the ground, looking hurt. "I was going to give Mr. Terraton this invitation, and I was wondering if he would give this spot to me. I can understand why he got mad."
Ah, the good old tactic of muddying the story so I would look like the villain. Given that little show he put on earlier, anyone who didn't know the whole story would think I was the assailant.
I was impressed with Fabian's scheming side, still, I remained calm and pointed at the torn invitation. Coolly, I said, "The invitation is mine to begin with. You had the gall to try and take it from me, and you ruined it just because you couldn't. As if that's not enough, you're accusing me as the villain instead?"
I thought I made it clear enough who the bad guy here was, but naive little Sophie looked dark.
"You beat him because of that? Unbelievable! I'm severely disappointed, Christopher! It's just a stupid invitation! Do you have any idea how sick Fabian is? Apologize, now!"
I looked at her quietly. Color me not surprised. "Why?"
"Why? Because you hit him! An apology is the least you could do!"
And that was her answer. I snickered and turned back into the house. Sophie wanted to say something, but Fabian pulled her back.
"It's alright, Sophie. He is in the wrong here, but I'm not mad at him."
Fabian's supposed understanding cooled Sophie down. She snarled at me before taking Fabian away.
I saw that through the peephole, and the scene kept me quiet for a while.
I had one tiny sliver of hope left for Sophie before she showed up, hoping she would take my side.
That hope was gone. Now I was sure the right move was to leave.
Hours after they were gone, Sophie texted me, "Don't take it to heart, Christopher. I'm not mad at you, but Fabian donated his blood to me. Can you just take a step back and see things from his side? Be the bigger man, will you?"
I snickered. If I had a screwdriver and her explanation in my hands, my value would only be increased by the screwdriver's value.
And then a strong sense of exhaustion took over me. No, I didn't feel any discontent or fury. I was just… tired.
Maybe it was time to drop some weight.
